2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max AWD - Bottom Line Review

GRANDER SCOT FOR CARRYING MORE TARTAN KILTS:

Tartan adorned occupants of the higher ground possess a clear advantage against pursuers from below. For two generations the multi kilt carrying Toyota Highlander has shared the peak of the large family crossover SUV ridge with the Ford Explorer, (likely outselling the latter if fleet sales are disregarded). The fourth generation of XU70 Highlander three-row crossover achieved its core mission of riding upon a modular platform, being draped with more dramatic flair inside and out, and reducing fuel consumption by 20% than its predecessor more dramatically.

Yet where Highlander Mk.4 only fractionally improved and was slipping against competitors was in the easily forgotten third row space. The Japanese car brand might have posited that the Sienna hybrid three-row family van serves the needs of those seeking the larger high efficiency rolling living room.

However, family vans have continued on their downward slide in a nation romantically engaged to a truck-like appearance and greater towing ratings in pursuit of the outdoor adventure lifestyle. Therefore, this year the world's largest automaker addresses the vestigial third row woes, with an all new stretched Scot, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander.

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WHAT: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Platinum AWD three row, full-sized plus hybrid crossover sport utility vehicle, with a Lexus analogue called the TX. The series AS10 Grand Highlander is a half-size up from the large mid size XU70 4th generation Toyota Highlander . Both jumbo and standard Highlanders share the Toyota New Global Architecture-K, however the "Grander" one receives a nearly four inch longer wheelbase. Larger and brawnier, yet, is the pickup truck derived, XK80 3rd generation Toyota Sequoia SUV.

WHAT MOTIVATES:

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2024 Roadblazing.com}

• POWERTRAIN HITS and MISSES:
• +1 More emphatic torque; Multitude of drive modes; Pronounced gear shifts,^{(Sport S, Sport+ modes)}
• -1 Long throttle step-in; Fuel economy less than advertised;^{(though still competitive)} Piped into cabin by audio system exhaust growl under throttle; No offroad / trail or regenerative drive mode(s)

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S): In the interest of optimal space packaging the AS10 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, drops the car-like creasing, flaring and overall rakishness of the standard XU70 Highlander. "Grand -ness" instead adopts a slab-sided stance. In the mold of the Toyota 4-Runner there is a slim upper grille followed by a deeper kinked lower corner trapezoid grille resulting in taller corner folds and a slimmer lower valance. Dark honeycombing fills the lower grille and valance. Slimmer front headlamp housings are less swept back into the fenders.

Darkened B & C pillars frame the tall greenhouse which terminates in a kinked D pillar. A high beltline spills down to a squared crease bar bumping out above the rocker panels. Dark lower cladding connects to dark wheel arch cladding, the latter doubling the arch height. Front door mounted wing mirrors mirror standard Highlander units with their body color uppers, darkened lowers and middle chrome bands.

The rear liftgate receives a slight Kammback middle bump descending with concavity, while forming a trapezoidal license plate bowl. Slimmer but wider inboard boomerang taillamps frame the body colored liftgate grab bar claiming "Grand Highlander" in restrained relief. The darkened rear lower valance widens dramatically at the corners, containing chrome banded reflectors, a hemispherical exhaust opening at each side filled by beveled cut tailpipe tips. A contrasting matte metallic finish trapezoid bar fills the center.

WHY: Nobody over the age of complaining wished to be banished to the standard Toyota Highlander's vestigial appendix of a third row.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Autumn 2023

WHERE: Toyota new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Princeton, Indiana, U.S.A.

WHERE TO: This time around with front wheel drive as standard. OPTIONAL = dual traction electric motor all-wheel drive, e-varying front/ rear traction from nominal 100/0% to maximum 20/80%, ABS torque vectoring; +1 Trail mode = rear biased torque split w/ a crawl mode; 8"-inches clearance = Inclement weather beater & dirt road, light mud treader.

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2024 Roadblazing.com}

HOW ROADWORTHY: The standard size Toyota Highlander powerplants may seem to quench the thirst for thrust as about as well as downing a favorite cold one from a sippy cup. However, the "plus size" Grand version was conceived with top trim performance capable of taking on large truck based SUVs thumping chests with petrol turbo V-6 or atmospheric V-8. Pulled out of the brand's latest Crown Platinum flagship sport sedan, the 2023 Toyota Crown Platinum's "Hybrid MAX" can thump it's own chest. Take off is a bit dulled owing to long throttle tip-in. Any turbo lag is snuffed out by the instant torque of the fore and aft electric traction motors. A lazy first 1/5 of throttle travel is intended to extract any jerkiness, and the six-speed slush-box is nearly snappy enough to chirp the tires in the lower gears. Once up and running the heart is satisfyingly robust, even if the sounds are piped in through the audio system.

• +1/- Still not fans of the center console joystick drive mode selector when attempting to select neutral for a tunnel car wash conveyor.
• -1 Annoying instrument cluster warning to "Depress Brake Pedal Firmly" to actuate engine idle start/ stop.
• -1 Some tire and wind noise penetrates the cabin, which is why the Lexus TX cousin exists.

HOW LIMBER: Struts fore and quad links aft locate 21" inch wheels, amidst relatively stiff springing. The result is noticeably less undulation or dive than experienced in the Toyota Avalon, despite a substantial mass increase. Drive mode dependent damping varies from supple firm to fairly taut. Not surprisingly given their size, there is some wheel crash thud over large expansion gaps.

Body stability is sufficient to move with verve through cloverleafs with verve and only a subtle sliding sensation at the rear. A hefty winding helm, without being too taxing, is engaging, even as the steering rack barely registers what the Goodyears underfoot are doing. More than two tons are slowed by discs at the corners, and in a page from the last Avalon TRD, front twin piston calipers impart firmer brake pedal responsiveness.

It's hard to imagine that the new TNGA-K modular platform can improve on the solidness that was legend of the 3rd generation XU50 series, but it places 2020 Highlander nearly right up there with some Lexus kin. Steering is quicker, more linear than previously. The brake pedal clamps down in a reassuring uncommon to other Toyota regenerative systems. Springs have been shored up for improved vertical stability and reactive dampers deliver a tautly plush ride. Still the set-up is biased towards pushing the rear out and high-speed straight tracking requires more attention than it should.

HOW FAR: 23 combined miles per gallon rated; 461 miles range

• +1 Impressively low fuel consumption for such a large performance vehicle
• -1 EV Mode  ≈ < 2 miles, @ < 25 mph,  @ very light throttle.
• -20% fuel economy vs. EPA rating due t0 cold weather

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 7 Occupant seating = 2+2+3 owing to 2nd Row Captains' chairs option; +2.36 wheelbase = bump in 1st & 2nd Row legroom; √ LE & XL trims carry 8 with 2nd Row 60/40% split bench configuration;

• 3rd row is now truly useful, +5.8" vs. Highlander Hybrid
• Cargo space aft of 3rd Row upped, 51% > Highlander Hybrid
• 5000 pound towing capacity = 43% > Highlander Hybrid

HOW USEFUL: √ +1 Middle dash storage shelf; √ Middle center stack wireless device shelf with cable management; √ 2nd Row heated captain's chairs; √ Flat folding 2nd Row tilting seatbacks; √ Flat folding 50/50% split 3rd Row tilting seatbacks w/ twin release straps; √ Fixed floor mounted dual cupholders between 2nd Row captain's chairs; √ Power liftgate - 20% lighter than before.

• +1 Deep center armrest w/ split roll-top; View over sloping hood;
• -1 Rear backlight & over shoulder blindspots; Distant reach to glove box; No power remote cargo bay 2nd or 3rd row seatback fold releases

HOW SAFE: IIHS - Good marks EXCEPT for small frontal offset collision, lower trim headlights

STANDARD: √ 8 airbags; √ Rear camera w/ predictive grid; √ Audible rear park assist; √ Roll mitigation;

Driver assist technology: √ STANDARD Toyota SafetySense 3.0 = Pedestrian & daytime cyclist detection braking; Forward collision avoidance braking; Blind spot &rear cross traffic warning; Lane departure; Road edge & Sway Warning, Lane Keep Assist; Adaptive cruise control - partial, Automatic High Beam headlights; 2nd Row occupant minder

• AVAILABLE Safety Features (Platinum trim) ♦ Blind spot & Rear Cross-traffic warning, ♦ Sonar front & rear park warning w/ automatic braking; ♦ 360° Bird's Eye View camera w/ Pre-drive perimeter scan; ♦ 10.0" Heads Up Display; ♦ Rain sensing windshield wipers
• +1 Safety Extra: Digital video rear view mirror for times when cargo blocks backlight
• -1 annoying "Sit Up, Face Not Detected" driver attention monitor instrument cluster warning

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY:  In terms of artistic flair and layout, the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander cabin borrows more from the new Toyota Crown than from the junior Highlander, right down to the bronze bronze contrast piping. The focus moves to the large variable ELD instrument cluster and equally large landscape tablet dominating the upper center dash. Unlike the Crown, the two displays in the Grand Highlander are separate rather than contiguous with darkened filler. Additionally, climate system temperature twist knobs replace what is button operated in the Crown. Insofar as ambience, the sueded leather seat inserts for the first two rows evoke a style dating back to last century 70's luxo barges. That makes the absence of cabin chrome more starkly conspicuous.

√ Leather, suede insert seating - heated Rows 1 + 2, cooled Row 1; √ Wide seat cushions √ Power 8-way driver's seat, w/ 2 position memory, 4-way front pax √ Heated Leather steering wheel with spoke integrated redundant controls; √ Keyless entry, ignition; √ Full express power windows x 4; √ 2nd Row window sunshades; √ Large twin ELD analog gauges; √ Rear seat minder in gauge cluster;

• +1 Wide center armrest; Generous steering wheel reach adjustment;
• -1 Qi inductive wireless device charging pad on shelf within center armrest bin; Minimal seat torso support, flat cushions; Tall liftgate lift-height

Cool Gizmo(s): √ Bird's Eye Camera Perimeter Scan; √ Panoramic moon roof w/ power shade; √ Digital video rear view mirror; √ 12.3" inch Multi Information Display dual side variable information, drive mode influenced TFT instrument cluster + navigation map migration; √ Toyota Connected Wake Up query powered by Google browser; √ Cockpit overhead touch trace activated 1st & 2nd Row LED lighting

Details Done Right: √ Simulated turned aluminum dashboard and console appliques; √ Seat-matching stitched simulated leather dash & door panel inserts; √ Tan padded 3rd Row outboard armrests; √ Rigid ABS load floor panel; √ Soothing blue foot well & door panel ambient lighting;

√ Bronze cabin panel accents + seat contrast stitching; √ Dense pile carpet; √ Tight mesh headliner + upper cabin pillars; √ Matte charcoal center console bezel; √ Tight pebble grained soft mid dash and upper door panels

Nearly Non-Descript: Sub waist cabin panel coarse grains

HOW CONNECTED: √ Toyota Connected center dash tablet 12.3"-inch landscape oriented, capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen (replaces base model 8.0" touch screen); √ Drive Connect "Hey Toyota" system voice interaction; √ Bluetooth hands-free communications x 2 phones; √ GPS HDD cloud Navigation w/ 3-D map, voice guidance, Google POI data, OTA updates; √ SMS voice to text messaging; √ Wireless Android Auto / Apple CarPlay phone projection; √ USB-C x 6, 12V x 1 120V AC x 2, 1500W ( 2nd Row, cargo bay); √ Qi inductive wireless device charging pad x 2 devices

• +1 New Toyota Connected infotainment user interface enhances intuitive voice command functions; Bluetooth handsfree connection for two phones simultaneously
• -1 Non-concealed forward center console wireless device storage shelf

HOW AUDIBLY: √ 800 watt, 11-speaker, 8 channel JBL Quantum-Logic DTS + Clari-Fi premium audio -speaker, HD Radio streaming audio = more than adequate ^{(240 watt, 6 speaker 4-channel streaming audio + HD radio on XLE, Limited)}

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: √ wireless Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; √ Toyota Connected Apps

By Subscription (trial): ♦ Sirius XM radio (3 mo.); ♦ WiFi by AT&T (2 GB trial); ♦ Toyota Connected Services (3 yrs.)

HOW MUCH: $61,705 = as tested 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Platinum AWD M.S.R.P^{($41,045 XLE Hybrid)}

WHAT'S MISSING: More driving engagement; Power cargo bay remote seatback folding; More cossetting bucket seats

ANY COMPETITION: 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy: +1 V-6